In the beginning Courtois found himself rotated in and out of the side as he was utilised along with Keylor Navas, who is a popular figure with the club's fans having featured in their Champions League successes under Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane's successor Julen Lopetegui was initially lauded by the club's fans for giving Navas the club's European games, in what proved to be one of his more popular decisions.